A Novel Automated Participant-Recorded Dietary Data Collection Method Using Low-Cost Mobile Phones and Interactive Voice Response with Low-Literacy Women: A Validation Study in Rural Uganda

Abstract

This study highlights the potential of collecting data from low-literate women in rural resource-scarce settings using IVR via basic mobile phones to estimate population-level MDD-W, WDDS, and percentage consuming unhealthy foods and beverages. Given the need for participant training, IVR may be best suited to high-frequency monitoring of sentinel groups across time. Further refinement of the IVR may improve food group reporting, reducing trade-offs between operational simplicity and accuracy. With appropriate adaptation, we expect this method is generalizable to other settings.